What really happened in the final months of one of Northwest Florida’s most successful university presidents?
At 11 a.m. today, Inweekly will publish online an exclusive interview that pulls back the curtain on the political drama that drove Dr. Martha Saunders from the University of West Florida after eight and a half years of unprecedented success.
The numbers don’t lie: Record enrollment. Third place in state performance metrics. National championships in both sports and academics. By every measurable standard, UWF was thriving under Saunders’ leadership. So why did she suddenly resign in May?
- The answer involves Gov. Ron DeSantis, a board stacked with political outsiders, and what Saunders herself calls an “ambush” that left her questioning whether she could continue leading the university she helped transform.
In this candid, no-holds-barred interview, Dr. Saunders reveals:
- How she learned about her own board’s replacement through media calls, not official channels
- The “litmus test” question that confused her about potential trustees
- Why she felt blindsided by appointees with zero connection to Northwest Florida
- The May 8 board meeting that changed everything, including pointed questions about a six-year-old drag show
- Her real reasons for walking away from a job she loved
The grassroots “Save UWF” movement mobilized thousands of community members, from Belle Bear to former trustees, all fighting to preserve local control of their university. Yard signs sprouted across Pensacola. Standing-room-only town halls packed meeting rooms. Even the state legislature took notice.
But it wasn’t enough to save Saunders’ presidency.
Exclusive Access
This isn’t just another story about academic politics. It’s about what happens when local institutions collide with statewide political agendas, and the human cost of that collision.
- Dr. Saunders’ parting advice? “Longevity should never be a career goal. If you cannot move it forward, it’s time to go.”
Don’t miss this revealing look at one of the most consequential leadership transitions in UWF’s history. The full interview goes live at 11 a.m. on inweekly.net.